In The News
VALLEY CENTRAL: Data: Number of migrant children moving through the Valley doubled in November
Washington,
December 9, 2015
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH 2015Most of the unaccompanied children come from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, which have been plagued by gang-related violence. (CBS 4 News)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained nearly 3,500 children who crossed the border last month, more than double the number detained during November 2014. Concerned about the number of unaccompanied children surging across the Texas-Mexico border, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services added 500 temporary beds at detention centers for children. "Out of an abundance of caution, the Office of Refugee Resettlement at HHS has begun a process to expand its temporary capacity to house unaccompanied children," according to a statement published by Customs and Border Protection. "This is a prudent step to ensure that the Border Patrol can continue its vital national security mission to prevent illegal migration, trafficking, and protect the borders of the United States." From Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, the federal government detained 6,465 children who crossed the border without a parent. During the same period last year, the federal government detained 3,219 children -- less than half that number. Most of the unaccompanied children come from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, which have been plagued by gang-related violence. Customs and Border Protection also reported more families crossing the border. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said the country can't afford to ignore the number of children and families crossing the border. "As I have warned repeatedly, we must not take our eye off the ball on the issues of curbing the flow of undocumented crossings of unaccompanied minors and families from Central America at our southern border," Cuellar said in a statement. Check back for updates. |